Any recommendation for composition books which are suitable for undergraduate/graduate students? which ones do you think are good for them?

I can't recommend anything as to 'how to compose' as if you're studying at uni/college, your tutor will guide you in this respect, however, a book i've found very useful is Alfred Blatter's 'Instrumentation and Orchestration,' it explains the ins and outs of orchestral instruments, their ranges, techniques etc, plus information on orchestration and instrumentation (obviously!).

In similar vein, can anyone recommend anything ..um.. accessible shall we say ? on the rudiments of harmony? I have Lovelock's First Year Harmony from when I did A level back when God was a boy, but are there alternatives you have tried and tested?

Many thanks
H

Walter Piston "Orchestration" was the text set on my undergraduate reading list. But that was nearly 20 years ago. Still a good book!

Anna Butterworth's "Harmony in Practice" is good.

Thanks for the recommendation!
H